Hand potato-planter.



' Patented Get. it), 1899.

R. F SPBAGUE. HAND POTATO PLANTER.

(Application filed Dec. 22, 1898.)

2 Sheefs-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

mas ca. mom-Luna wwmmn. n. c

' Patented Oct. m; 1899.

R: .F. SPRAGUE.

HAND POTATO PLANTER.

(Lpph at nfll dDec 22 1898) {No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

UNITED STATES;

PATENT OFFICE.

RUFUS n. sraaoun, or

GREENVILLE, MICHIGAN.

HAND POTATO- PLANTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters' Patent No. 634,483, dated October 10, 1899.

Application filed December 22, 1898 Serialibl'o. 700,021. (No model.)

To all whom iv may concern;

Be it known that I, Runes F. SPRAGUE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Greenville, in the county of Montcalm and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Hand Potato-Planter, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to hand-planters of that type which are specially designed for planting potatoes'or other seed; and it has for its object to efiect certain improvements in planters of this character whereby the same may be more readily manipulated and adj usted.

In that class of hand potato-planters essentially consisting of relatively fixed and movable beak-jaws formed of sheet-steel andhaving a handle or pole connected by a socketcasting with the fixed jaw it is necessary for the operator to place his foot onthe top edge of the planter-beak to press the same into the ground, thereby necessitating the constant pressing of the sole of the shoe or boot on the raw or rough edge of'the sheet metal with a consequent rapidwearing out of theboot or shoe. In the same class of planters there is employed eitheracombination fulcrum and spacing arm or a combination fulcrum'and depth-gage, which extends outward fr'om the relatively-movableor front jaw of the beak and in some cases is vertically adjustable to provide for regulating the depth at which the potato is to be planted, in which case it is attached to the beak-jaw by a bolt which he quentiy loosens and permits the arm' to turn out of an operative position. Recognizing these objections to the use of the class of hand potato-planters referred to, it is the purpose of the present invention to provide the beak of the planter with a suitable rcstfor the foot of theoperator, which will not only protect the boot or shoe from working directly on the rough edge of the metal, but at the same time will provide for evenly distributing the footpressure, and thereby insuring a proper insertion of the beak in the ground.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved means of attaching the combeing securely braced in position and prevented from turning axiallyonthe securingbolt therefor. J

With these and other objects in view, which will readily appear as the nature of the in vention is better understood, the same consists in thenovel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

While the essential and characteristic features of the invention are necessarilysuscepti ble to modification, still the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which' Figure 1 is a-perspective view of a hand potato-planter, showing the-improvements embodiedin one form. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the construction shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail in perspective of the front or m ovable jaw of the beak with the combined gage and fulcrum arm removed and showing a modification in which the top edge of the beak-jaw is flanged out to form an integral rest-plate portion instead of the separate restplate shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is a detail in perspective of the combined gage and fulcrum'arm. Fig. 5 is a detail in perspective of the form of socket-piece shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. Fig. 6 is a detail in perspective showing a modification in which the rest-plate for the top edge of the movable or front beak-jaw is. formed integrally with the combined gage and fulcrum arm. Fig. 7 is a detail in perspective of the planter, showing a modified form of the socket-piece, having the rest-arms thereof disposed in a relation which dispenses with the use of a restplate at the top edgeof the movable jaw.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 designates the tubular beak of the planter, which is of the usual tapering configuration or wedge shape, and essentially consists of the relatively fixed and movable beak-jaws 2 and 3, respectively. The beak-jaws 2 and 3 are preferably. made of sheet-steel and of a substantially U shape in cross-section, said jaws being provided at their side edges with the oppositely-located side flanges 4, the side flanges 4 of one jaw near the top of the beak, thereby permitting registering within those of the other jaw and. p'ivotally joined thereto by the pivot-pins 5' the beak to open and close in the usual manner, it being observed that the pivotally-connected side flanges 4 of the beak-jaws taper to the bottom cutting edges 6 thereof. This is substantially the construct-ion of that type of planter-beaks which are open at the top to receive therein a potato and have no tube or spout connection therewith. In this type of potato-planters itis necessary for the operator to place his foot on the top edge of the planter beak to press the same into the ground, and it is the purpose of the present invention to facilitate this operation without injury to the boot or shoe of the operator, and in the form or adaptation of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings a socket-piece or casting 7 is employed in connection with the fixed jaw 2 of the beak.

The socket-piece '7 is preferably formed of a single casting and is provided with an elongated handlesocket 8, adapted to receive therein the lower end of the usual handle or pole 9, which is grasped by the operator to assist in thrusting the beak into-the ground. At the lower end of the handle-socket S the socket-piece 7 is formed with an integral attaching-head 9, which is disposed at an angle or laterally to the disposition of the handle-socket 8 and has the inner side thereof curved or shaped to conform to the exterior curvature orshape of the fixed beak-jaw 2 at the top edge thereof. The said attachinghead 9 of the socket-piece 7 is formed with a plurality of rivet-ears 10, fitting flat against the outer side of the jaw 2 and receiving suitable rivets for securely fastening the socketpiece to the beak-jaw; but the essential feature in the construction of the attaching-head 9 of the socket-piece is the provision of the latter with a pair of oppositely-extending rest-arms .11, projecting at both sides of the plane of the handle-socket 8 and having a curvature conforming to that of the beak-jaw 2 and lying in a plane slightly above the top edge of said jaw or substantially flush therewith to aiford a rest-surface for the foot of the operator entirely independent of the top edge of the beak. In addition to the oppositely-extending rest-arms 11 the attachinghead 9 of the socket-piece is provided at a point intermediate the terminals of said arms with an in Wardly-projecting or offset step 12, which also affords a bearing for the foot of the operator, and in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the rest-arms 11 and the rest-step 12 cooperate with a restplate 13, arranged at the top edge of the oppositely-located movable jaw 3 of the beak.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings the restplate 13 is separate and independent of the sheet-metal beak-jaw 3 and conforms with the exterior shape of said jaw at the top edge thereof, so as to lie substantially flush with such top edge and provide a bearing for the foot to rest upon, and said separate rest-plate 13 is-preferabl'y formed at its terminals with the same to the beak-jaws.

a pair of pendent ears 14, which receive rivets or equivalent fas'tenings 15 for securing This rest-plate may be employed in different forms, one of which forms is shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, in which the top edge of the movable beak-jaw 3 is flanged out to form an integral rest-plate portion 13, which subserves the same function as the separate plate 13 described. Another modification of the restplate for the top edge of the movable beakjaw is shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, in which the combined gage andfulcrum arm 14 is provided at its inner end with an integral rest-plate portion 13, located in the same position and performing the same function as the separate rest plate 13 previously described. In this modification of the invention the combined gage and fulcrum arm let has no adjustment, but is provided at its inner end with a plurality of securing-arms 15*, which are permanently riveted to the movable beak-jaw 3.

\Vhile the modification of the rest-plate for the movable beak-jaw 3 is shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings in connection with a stationary gage and fulcrum arm 14:, it is' preferable in carrying out the present invent-ion that said arm be adjustable to vary the depth of the insertion of the beak into the ground, and

to secure this result the said arm 14 is provided at its inner end with an integral attaching-platelG, provided in its inner side or face next to the beak-jaw with an angular longitudinal groove 17, adapted to register with and fit over a correspondingly-shaped rib 18, struck up from the movable beak-jaw 3 and extending longitudinally thereof for a portion of its length. In addition to the longitudinal rib 18 the said movable or front beak-jaw 3 is further provided with a longitudinal series of bolt-openings 19, adapted to receive the securing-bolt 20, which also passes through the longitudinal slot 21 in the at taching-plate 16 of the said arm 141.

When the bolt 20 is arranged in any of the openings 19 in the movable or front beakjaw 3, the slot 21 permits of a vertical adjustment of the arm 14:; but if it is necessary to make a material adjustment of said arm the said bolt 20 can be shifted to any of the openings 19; but'in all posit-ions of the combined gage and fulcrum arm 14 the interlocking groove and rib connection between the arm and the movable beak-jaw will serve to brace the arm and prevent the same from turning axially to an inoperative position.

WVith reference to the foot-rest attach ments for the beak it will be observed that the same not only protect the boot or shoe of the operator, but also provide for evenly distributing the foot-pressure, and thereby insure a proper insertion of the beak into the ground, and this feature of the invention is susceptible to a variety of modifications, another one of which is shownin Fig. 7 of the drawings.

of the said rest-arms 11 thereby projecting to points beyond and out of contact with the beak-jaw 2 and affording a wide bearing or rest for the foot of the operator. Inthis construction the divergent rest-arms ll are joined to the body or head of the socket-piece by short connecting-webs 21, which connect with the said arms ll near one 'end thereof. In the modified construction shown in Fig. '7 of the drawings the foot of the operator is placed squarely across both of the rest-arms 11, and thereby gets an even pressure on the beak, consequently dispensing with the necessity of a foot-rest or rest-plate at the top edge of the movable beak-jaw.

Other modifications wills u ggest themselves to those skilled in the art, and it will be understood that changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction maybe resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

1 In a hand-planter, an open-top beak having a pair of oppositely-located foot-rests arranged at the top edge of one of its jaws, and approximately flush therewith, substantially as set forth.

2. In a hand-planter, the beak, consisting of the fixed and movable jaws, and a socketpiecefitted to the fixed jaw and provided with oppositely-arranged restportions for the foot of the operator, substantially as set forth.

3. In a hand-planter, the beak, consisting of the fixed and movable jaws, and asocketpiece fitted to the fixed jaw at the top edge thereof and provided with oppositely disposed rest-arms arranged substantially flush with the top edge of the beak, substantially as set forth.

4. In a hand-planter, the beak, consisting of the fixed and movable jaws, and a socketpiec'e fitted to the outer side of the fixed jaw at the top edge thereof and provided with an attaching-head having oppositely-extending rest-arms, and an inwardly-projecting or offset step located intermediate the terminals of said arms, substantially as set forth.

5. In a hand-planter, the beak consisting of the fixed and movable jaws, and provided at the top edge of both jaws with foot-rests, substantially as set forth.

6. In a hand-planter, the beak consisting of the fixed and movable jaws, a socket-piece arranged at the top edge of the fixed jaw and provided with a rest for the foot of the operator, and a rest-plate provided at the top edge of the movable jaw, substantially as set forth.

7. In a hand-planter, the combination with the beak, of the combined gage and fulcrum arm adjustable on one of the beak-jaws and havingan interlocking connection therewith, and fastening means, independent of said in= terlocking connection, for securing the arm rigidly at its different points of adjustment, substantially as set forth.

8. In a hand-planter, the combination of the beak having the fixed and movable jaws, one of which is provided with a longitudinally-disposed offsetrib and a plurality of bolt-openings, the combined gage and fulcrum arm having a longitudinally-slotted attaching-plate provided in its inner side with a groove registering with said rib, and a securing-bolt adapted to engage the openings of the beak-jaw and the slot of said attaching-plate, substantially as setforth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

RUFUS F. SPRAGUE.

Witnesses:

THOMAS J. POTTER, IRMA GRAHAM. 

